Everything You Need To Know About Shungite

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Discovery of Shungite

Shungite was first discovered in the seams of very old rock near the village of Shunga in the Republic of Karelia in Russia and it is only found here and nowhere else in the world. The largest and primary Shungite deposit is found at Zazhoginsky mine where there are reportedly over 1 billion tons of Shungite.  

Features of Shungite

Shungite is a Precambrian natural rock that is rich in Carbon and has long been recognised for its powerful healing and protective properties.  Since the early 18th century it has been used as medical treatment and water purification in Russia. 

Its carbon-rich composition and physical and chemical properties make it truly unique and it is believed to be one of the only substances in the world to contain hollow carbon molecules which are known as Fullerenes.  It is the Fullerenes which Scientists believe are the root of Shungite's healing and protective properties. 

Fullerenes Explained

Fullerenes are large, hollow, carbon-rich molecules and were first synthesised in a laboratory setting in 1985. Prior to this, it was the belief that Fullerenes didn't exist in nature.  However, in 1992 they were discovered to exist naturally in Shungite as described in this New York Times article.  

Fullerenes are known to have a high oxidative and reductive capacity; it is thought that this is where Shungite obtains its antioxidant properties. Research continues to be ongoing into how fullerenes can be applied to both health and nanotechnology. 

Formation of Shungite

Shungite is approximately two billion years old but how it was formed and where it came from is still a bit of a mystery!  There are two popular theories as to its origin:

  •  The first theory is that there used to be an ancient body of water (an ocean, sea or lake) billions of years ago in the area in which there was a high concentration of early microscopic organisms. As the organisms died, their deposits formed on the sea floor and subsequent shifting of the Earth's plates over millions of years moved the deposits from the seabed to land where they concentrated in one area.
  • The second theory is that Shungite is the result of a meteorite hitting the Earth billions of years ago, which would help explain why it is only in one area of the world.

Three Types of Shungite

Shungite is classified into three types, dependant on the amount of Carbon it contains:

  • Type I Shungite known as noble or elite Shungite. It contains the highest amount of carbon ( 90 - 98%). It also contains the highest concentration of Fullerenes. Elite Shungite has a shiny surface giving the black stone a metallic lustre. Elite Shungite only accounts for less than 1% of all Shungite found and is therefore the most rare form.  
  • Type II Shungite known as Petrovsky Shungite named after the Russian Emperor, Peter the Great. Type II Shungite is also rare and contains approximately 75% Carbon. 
  • Type III Shungite is called regular Shungite and contains about 30 - 50% Carbon. It is less rare and is usually the Shungite you will find in shaped and polished products like pyramids, spheres etc.

What We Know So Far about Shungite's Properties and Benefits

Russia have been using Shungite for its healing and protective properties for centuries. In the 18th century, Peter the Great reportedly set up Russia's first spa in Karelia to make use of the water-purifying and healing properties of Shungite for his soldiers. It is also believed that he used Shungite to provide purified water for his army after many had been poisoned. Men who drank water from the spring that ran through the Shungite deposit recovered much faster than normal. This is believed to be the origin of shungite water.  This is now widely recommended by naturopaths and healers for health issues such as: 

  • allergies
  • sore throats
  • asthma
  • arthritis
  • kidney problems
  • liver problems 
  • chronic fatigue
  • autoimmune conditions 

Recent studies have also shown that Shungite can filter water by removing contaminants and organic substances like pesticides as well removing radioactive compounds from water. 

Fullerenes in Shungite are also being recognised for their antimicrobial properties. Research is still ongoing into this, however this recent study in 2017 concluded that 'carbon-based nanostructures are promising antibacterial candidates for a wide range of medical applications due to their abilities to kill microorganisms, prevent bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation.' 

The antioxidant properties of Fullerenes and its potential uses are also of great interest to the scientific community. A 2017 study demonstrated both the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Shungite; skin damage and oxidative stress in mice showed significant improvements when a Shungite solution was applied and lower levels of inflammatory markers, including cytokines were discovered.

The study concludes that 'this study confirms the hypothesis that Shungite, a natural fullerene, has antioxidant properties as it reduced the intracellular ROS production and enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities in vivo ... Since the processability of pure fullerene is very challenging and very expensive, this study suggests that natural mineral Shungite, as a novel antioxidant, could provide a new therapeutic insight against oxidative - and inflammatory-related diseases' 

The potential for Shungite to help in protecting against the effects of electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) is however, what caught our eye at Grounded Wellness.  More research is certainly needed into this, but the anecdotal evidence and studies to date are compelling. According to Karelian Heritage, the Academy of Sciences in Karelia has spent many years researching Shungite's abilities to protect against EMF.  A Shungite Facts page on the Academy's website states the following: 

'Shungite can, indeed, clean water from hazardous impurities, absorb radioactive elements or screen off electromagnetic radiation. Yet, not all shungite species are alike'

The Academy also explains that: 'In 1996, the Military Medical Academy in St. Petersburg opened a 'shungite ward'. Doctors found that it has a reduced level of electromagnetic radiation, accelerates recovery from various diseases and helps cope with stress and physical exertion. Similar wards have since then appeared in several Russian cities. In Petrozavodsk, too, a shungite grotto was recently opened at the FR Engineering Centre'  

A 2003 study looked at the shielding properties of mineral Shungite and stated that 'shielding with shungite decreased the severity of damage produced by high-frequency electromagnetic radiation' 

Using Shungite

As Shungite comes in many sizes, shapes and forms it can be used in a variety of ways. From larger pieces including pyramids, cubes and spheres, device-specific items such as phone stickers and stands, as well as smaller wearables pieces of Shungite designed to be worn as jewellery or accessories. You can also buy small Shungite stones to make shungite water and for adding to a shungite bath. 

Here at Grounded Wellness, we wanted something that was small, lightweight and wearable to offer as part of our EMF Protection range.  We therefore decided to stock the Elite Shungite Pendant due to its protective qualities for convenient, wearable EMF protection. 

Identifying Authentic Shungite

It is very important to make sure you are purchasing high quality, authentic shungite. Many products that are marketed as Shungite only contain a small percentage of shungite in the stone. There are a few easy ways to verify that your Shungite is authentic as this video from Karelian Heritage explains. 

At Grounded Wellness we have sourced our Elite Shungite Pendants from Karelian Heritage in the Karelian region of Russia. This is a copy of the authentication certificate for the Shungite and it is well worth taking time to read the many product reviews and testimonials on their website. 

Caring For Your Elite Shungite Pendant

It is recommended to regularly clean the Shungite stone by washing it under warm, running water and then leaving it to dry in direct sunlight for at least six hours to recharge.

Disclaimer: we are not doctors or medical professionals, and do not provide medical advice. We have gathered as much information as we can from a variety of sources to provide information about shungite. Readers are advised to do their own research. Nothing you read on our website should be relied upon to determine a medical diagnosis or any course of treatment.